You are witnessing the beginning of a love affair.
Chapter I: Every man’s beginning comes from another Man’s ending
Sometime last February, I was trolling through the Internet, visiting an insurance website I frequent. As I flip through wrecked cars and theft recoveries, I see an Integra.
‘Hey, a dc2 integra, theft recovery? I’ll check it out…’
I opened the pics to see a yellow dc2 integra. Re spray, no doubt. As I quickly flip through the pictures of a yellow GSR, I see the interior pic and how its yellow under the dash. Something clicks in my mind…
‘Can’t be…is it a…’
More exterior pics. Type R stickers on it. Can’t be real….
‘One way to tell. Do it Matt, take a chance…’
Jhmdc231 vin number.
It is real.
‘AN R! I FOUND ONE!’ My roommate thought I was going to jump through the window screaming.
Here is the first five pictures I ever saw of her:
Chapter II: Making a connection
I took a day to make the 120+ mile trip to see her in person.
As I drove, the anticipation built. I haven’t been on a date in years.
Hopefully this is the one.
This is the first picture I ever took of her:
Upon inspection, she is a real gem. One previous collision in the front, repaired well. Hood, bumper, top of core, apron, and pass. Fender has been repaired. Other panels had paintwork too.
Original dash is in the car. Five lug is gone, rear suspension still in tact.
My mind is racing now. ‘How can I have her? What must I do? Can I swing it and still make rent?’
Questions pile up, as I feel I don’t have enough time with her.
I must have her.
After entering a bid that I was sure would leave me with enough pennies to not be evicted, I immediately felt a sense of disappointment…
‘Someone else will get her. She’s beautiful, and I’m the “best-friend” type’
A few days later, I received a phone call that changed my car-owning life permanently. My knees were shaking as I listened to the message, and my stomach in knots.
“You have won auction #blah blah blah….”
I then took my 15min break at work, and had a permanent smile for the rest of the day.
Life is good.
Chapter III: The first time
Picking her up…pun intended:
My anticipation was at its height now. Hours of driving, trailer flying behind me, had made me sick with need. I was waiting for that moment when she would be mine, for the first time.
I smiled the whole way home, and did the speed limit
Chapter IV: Comfort is Priceles
The first photoshoot with her, beaten but not defeated:
Dash pulled to take out the heater core and whatnot, but the body harness is fully intact
Rear springs, struts, lower tie bar, sway bar, LCAs all in tact….but the body rear hardlines and ABS sensors cut
Front forks holding the car up, since the front struts and springs were taken
Under the hood, PS and AC relatively intact, front crossmember and MC in tact…clutch hardline cut
Chapter V: Let the Rehabilitation begin…
After a good cleaning
The mind behind the clean:
Looks like she was sank at one time?
I found the SRS module to be full of sand and crap. With all the water signs under the hood, it looks like she was sunk in something nose first.
Chapter IV: Building foundations
Here comes the onslaught of parts I’ve been saving up for builds here and there. Time to give her some love.
Clean carpet in:
Climate stuffs that were taken:
Headlight buffing:
Time for some rollers…..will it be five lug?
Yeah, its not five lug but a close second
Until an OEM lip is found, here is a wings west piece I’m going to try out for a bit:
PY wing traded for my champ white piece….score!
And a cool photo of pure game:
There are more pics to come of the interior and new additions to come once the UPS man comes
Stay tuned for Chapter VII
